Proverbs 15 · Verse 8

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:8, King James Version

Proverbs 15:8 in other translations

BSBThe sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
WEBThe sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
ASVThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
YLTThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright is His delight.
DARBYThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
BBEThe offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
WebsterThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

What does Proverbs 15:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 15:8-9
8-9. The sacrifice [and] prayer--are acts of worship. way ... followeth ... righteousness--denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psa 50:17; Is 1:11.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination - Even the most sedulous attendance on the ordinances of God, and pert ormance of the ceremonies of religion, is an abomination to the Lord, if the heart be not right with him, and the observance do not flow from a principle of pure devotion. No religious acts will do in place of holiness to the Lord. The prayer of the upright is his delight - What a motive to be upright; and what a motive to the upright to pray! But who is the upright? The man who is weary of sin, and sincerely desires the salvation of God; as well as he who has already received a measure of that salvation. Hence it is said in the next verse, "He loveth him that followeth after righteousness."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 15:8-9
The wicked put other things in the stead of Christ's atonement, or in the place of holy obedience. Praying graces are his gift, and the work of his Spirit, with which he is well pleased.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 15:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

זֶ֣בַחZe.vach[the] sacrifice ofH2077
רְ֭שָׁעִיםRe.sha.'imwicked [people]H7563
תּוֹעֲבַ֣תto.'a.Vat[is] [the] abomination ofH8441
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וּתְפִלַּ֖תu.te.fi.Latand [is the] prayer ofH8605
יְשָׁרִ֣יםye.sha.Rimupright [people]H3477
רְצוֹנֽוֹ\׃re.tzo.Nodelight hisH7522

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 15:8

  • Proverbs 15:29

    The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:17

    I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

  • Proverbs 21:27

    The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

  • Proverbs 28:9

    He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

  • Isaiah 1:10-15

    Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. …

  • Jeremiah 6:20

    To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

  • Isaiah 61:8

    For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

  • John 4:24

    God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:1

    Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

  • Psalms 17:1

    A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

  • Isaiah 66:3

    He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

  • Jeremiah 7:21-23

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
sacrifice.
21:27; 28:9; Isa 1:10-15; 61:8; 66:3; Jer 6:20; 7:21-23; Am 5:21,22
Joh 4:24
the prayer.
29; 1Ch 29:17; Ps 17:1; So 2:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 15:7

    The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

  • Proverbs 15:8

    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

  • Proverbs 15:9

    The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Read all of Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El sacrificio de los impíos es abominación á Jehová: mas la oración de los rectos es su gozo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le sacrifice des méchants est en abomination à l’ Éternel, mais la prière des hommes droits lui est agréable.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das Opfer der Gesetzlosen ist Jehova ein Greuel, aber das Gebet der Aufrichtigen sein Wohlgefallen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Victimæ impiorum abominabiles Domino; vota justorum placabilia.